Media Professionals And CSOsTrained on Gender-Responsive Reporting in Kisumu
Day one began with foundational sessions on gender analysis and mainstreaming, facilitated by Joyce Orawu.
Media practitioners, Civil Society Organisations and Advanced Gender Responsive Trainers during a group photo. Photo/Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications.
By Robert Assad
Journalists, Civil Society Organisations and media practitioners from across Kenya gathered in Kisumu this week for a transformative three-day workshop focused on advancing gender-responsive reporting.
Held at the Acacia Hotel from May 6 to 8, 2025, the training was organized by the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications, aiming to equip media professionals with tools and frameworks to promote gender equity in media coverage.
The workshop was led by gender experts Joyce Orawu and Pauline Murruki, who guided participants through an intensive curriculum that included gender analysis, ethical reporting, legal frameworks, advertising practices, and coverage of gender-based violence (GBV).
Exploring Gender Analysis and Mainstreaming
Day one began with foundational sessions on gender analysis and mainstreaming, facilitated by Joyce Orawu.
Participants delved into key frameworks such as the Harvard Analytical Framework and the Gender Analysis Matrix, gaining insights into real-life applications like the Bridge Water Supply Project in Kakamega County.
Orawu also shared experiences from the ASAA Arts for Awareness project, which successfully engaged youth in sexual reproductive health education through football and social media outreach.
Group discussions tackled issues like unconscious bias and workplace inequality, helping participants internalize gender-responsive tools such as budgeting and policy integration.
Upholding Ethics and Legal Standards in Reporting
On the second day, the focus shifted to ethical and legal dimensions of gender reporting.
Orawu underscored the importance of fairness, accuracy, and respect for human dignity, urging media professionals to steer clear of harmful stereotypes and victim-blaming.
A hands-on exercise analyzing visual media helped sharpen participants’ ethical lens.
The legal frameworks session covered global and national instruments, including CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
Participants examined the role of the media in advocating for justice, with case studies illustrating the consequences of biased reporting and the potential of journalism to uphold human rights.
Tackling Gender Norms, Advertising, and GBV
Day three began with Pauline Murriuki unpacking the social construction of gender, encouraging participants to recognize how media and culture reinforce traditional norms.
Interactive activities highlighted the differences between gender equality and equity, reinforcing key concepts.
Joyce Orawu returned to lead discussions on gender representation in advertising and GBV reporting. Participants analyzed headlines and advertisements for bias, learning to reframe narratives to emphasize achievement over appearance.
The GBV session addressed the role of the media in either perpetuating or challenging violence, with an emphasis on survivor-centered, trauma-informed reporting.
Orawu spotlighted alarming statistics, including that 47% of murder victims between 2022 and 2024 were women, stressing the urgency of accurate, ethical journalism.
Looking Ahead
The training left participants with a deeper understanding of the media’s responsibility in shaping public discourse and driving gender equity.
Attendees praised the sessions for opening their eyes to the power of language and storytelling in either reinforcing or dismantling systemic inequalities.
The Aga Khan University reiterated its commitment to supporting gender-responsive media practices across Kenya, aligning with national development goals and global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
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